Champagne is generally associated with feelings of euphoric excess and the special occasions that prompt them -- New Year's Eve celebrations, weddings, birthdays, promotions. Even if you're in the mood to splurge, a large crowd or a tight budget can prompt the pursuit of cheap Champagne. From France to Spain, Italy, and California, there's enough excellent bubbly to go around for $10 or less. The challenge lies in knowing what you're buying. We considered online reviews and ratings from a variety of sources and consulted a wine expert to come up with our top picks.

If you think cheap white wine is only for grandma's spritzer, think again. There's a white wine -- costing no more than $10 to satisfy almost anyone's palate. Inexpensive white wines can complement a range of foods, brighten up a lazy summer afternoon, and make an excellent substitute for pre-dinner cocktails. White wines typically present fruity and/or floral flavors and aromas, sometimes offer a bit of spice and earthiness, and range in sugar content from bone dry to dessert-level sweet. We've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, and awards, on top of expert advice, and suspect wine drinkers will find at least one selection to suit both their sipping preferences and their budget.

Who needs a premium red wine when a thoroughly respectable bottle costs $10 or less? Frugal quaffers who know even a little bit about wine and aren't afraid to go with what they like will find many such bottles. There are hundreds of cheap red wines out there -- some barely worth the few dollars you'd pay but many worth drinking. With so many styles, grape varieties, producers, and labels to choose among, shopping can be a challenge. To guide wine drinkers through the thicket, we've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, awards, and expert advice. We've also selected a wide array of other inexpensive red wines fit to serve with a meal, bring to a party, or sip over the course of a quiet evening.

With just about two weeks left till Christmas, many shoppers are scrambling to find just the right gift for everyone on their holiday lists. If you're among them, don't sweat it. Our latest buying guides are full of ideas, from cheap and easy items from the dollar store to gifts every foodie will love to useful stocking stuffers to gifts for pets, there's something for everyone. Still unsure? Our guide to stores with the most and least generous return policies can make purchasing any gift less stressful. And if all the running around this holiday season has you wondering just how many miles you're racking up, check out our guide to the best, cheap fitness trackers, which can also help focus your fitness goals in the new year. Also new on the blog this week: smart tax moves to make before year-end, how to put your family on a budget, incredible gingerbread house displays across the continent, and more. Updated Buying Guides: Best Cheap Champagne. A buying guide to cheap champagne -- more properly known as sparkling wine -- that can do a celebration proud for less than $10 a bottle. New and Updated Blog Posts: 19 Cheap Holiday Gifts for Pets. Here are 19 holiday gift ideas that furry friends are sure to appreciate. Pet owners will take delight in them, as well. 11 Hangover 'Cures' Debunked. All those alleged hangover cures are little more than myths. There's only one cheap and simple cure that works. Top Fitness Trackers Under $50 to Get You Moving. Get fitter faster with top-rated fitness trackers under $50. Measure calories and get motivated to be more active throughout the day with instant feedback. 25 Delectable Gifts Under $25 for Foodies. From onion goggles to truffle oil, these cheap and practical gifts will keep the gourmet sated and happily cooking all year long. 12 Stocking Stuffers They'll Actually Use. Don't waste money by waiting until the last minute to buy stocking stuffers. These great, practical ideas start as low as $2. 10 Smart Tax Moves to Make Before the End of the Year. Taking steps such as making charitable donations, contributing to a 401(k), and making an extra mortgage payment before the end of the year can help lower 2015 taxes. 10 Toast-Worthy Sparkling Wines for $10 or Less. Any of these 10 budget-priced and flavorful sparkling wines will add festive good cheer to holiday celebrations -- and also deserve a place at the table year-round. 11 Ways to Put Your Family on a Budget for the New Year. Start the new year right with these 11 budgeting tips to get your financial house in order and help your family get on the right path. 12 Holiday Gifts You Can Get at the Dollar Store. Whether you're shopping for family, friends, or co-workers, dollar stores are a convenient source for inexpensive holiday gifts. 16 Incredible Gingerbread House Displays That Are Worth a Trip. Elaborate and mostly edible, these 16 gingerbread houses are anything but tame. Plan a trip, check out the displays, and maybe even take a piece home. 25 Places to Go for Spectacular New Year's Eve Fireworks. Catch the New Year's Eve fireworks displays in these 25 places, many of which also host free and family-friendly activities to usher in 2017. Love Chocolate? 10 Places You Have to Try the Hot Cocoa. Whether you're in New York, Chicago, or Austin, gourmet hot cocoa is a great way to warm up -- here are some of the best cups of liquid heaven across the country. Best 'Main Street' Shopping Districts in All 50 States. Here are 50 great places to shop while enjoying small town scenery, setting, people, and pace, all far, far away from crowded, chaotic megamalls. 10 Stores With Strict Return Policies. Some retailers are more forgiving about returns during the holiday season, but these 10 stores have strict return policies every shopper should know. 13 Stores With Amazing Return Policies. Holiday shopping is stressful enough without having to worry about returning an item. These 13 stores offer generous return policies -- and peace of mind. 11 Inexpensive Winter Cruises to Sunny Destinations. Winter can be exactly the right season to land a huge bargain on a getaway cruise to someplace warm and sunny like the Bahamas or Puerto Vallarta. 8 Ways to Give to Charity and Get a Tax Break for 2016. Tax-deductible donations to charity pay off personally and financially. Here are eight tips for claiming tax savings in 2016. 15 Inexpensive Ways to Make Overnight Holiday Guests Feel at Home. A few minor touches such as slippers and extra towels can make a huge difference in the comfort level of overnight holiday guests -- and their hosts.

10 Best Tequilas Under $30 a Bottle

National Margarita Day is an occasion to celebrate the festive flavors of lime, salt, and, most of all, tequila. For fans of the spicy Mexican spirit, the market for tequila is more interesting and diverse than ever. Prices of agave spirits have shot up in the past few years as tequila has gained recognition for its unique flavor and complexity. Bottles of top-tier tequila can easily cost hundreds of dollars, but frugal shoppers can find delicious 100 percent agave tequila for less than $30. To come up with the best affordable tequilas, Cheapism.com reviewed the results of the 2015 Ultimate Beverage Challenge, which is respected for its tasting methodology and well-known judges. The UBC results were cross-checked with consumer reviews on sites such as Tequila.net and UnderTheLabel and scores on Proof66, which aggregates ratings from Wine Enthusiast, the Beverage Testing Institute, and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The winners represent three categories: blanco, reposado, and añejo.

Called blanco (white) or plata (silver), unaged tequila is clear in appearance. By law, these tequilas are bottled within two months of production. Blanco tequilas feature fresh agave flavors such as fresh grass, tropical fruit, pepper, and minerals.

With a score of 94 and an award for value from UBC, this modestly priced blanco tequila offers a lot of bang for the buck. A Tequila.net reviewer agrees, awarding it 92 points for exceptional, layered flavor. Spicy elements and herbs are interwoven with a refined roasted pineapple core, creating considerable complexity for about $28.

Rated 93 by UBC, this $20 bottle easily beats some well-known competitors going for two or three times the price. Its silken texture offers flavors of ripe tropical fruit, with clean minerality that finishes dry. At such an affordable price, this bottle serves as an all-purpose blanco tequila for mixing or drinking straight.

With a UBC score of 92 and a consumer rating of 89 on Tequila.net, this traditionally produced blanco is a strong contender for about $25. A lower alcohol content means smooth sipping for this highland tequila. Flavors are sweet and salty, combining mango, lime, and a peppery piquancy that makes it excellent on its own or in cocktails.

A favorite among consumers and professionals, UBC rated this lowland blanco tequila at 91 points. A particularly aromatic spirit, it is full of figs, green grass, and peppery spice, with layers that continue to unfold as you drink. Definitely a sipper and a good deal at about $29.

Tequila that is matured in wood casks for between two and 11 months is referred to as reposado (rested). These lightly aged spirits take on a natural golden hue and enhanced flavor from the wood, which is most commonly oak. Known for their light caramel and vanilla notes, these soft and rounded tequilas are good on their own and in cocktails.

Another gem from the Lunazul label is its lightly aged reposado. Professionals are hot on this bottle, awarding it 94 points at UBC. It's on the sweeter side, with cinnamon, vanilla, and baked custard flavors giving way to some darker burnt sugar characteristics that make it appealing as an after dinner sipper. And the price is right, at about $22.

A strong brand throughout the categories, this reposado gets a 91 from the experts at UBC. It is silky and refined with notes of deeply roasted coffee and a playful green grassy flavor that adds brightness. A favorite among bartenders for cocktails thanks to its earthy tone, it can be found for about $25.

This is a strong contender in the reposado category with a respectable 87 points from the experts at UBC. Bright tropical fruits, slight charred pineapple, and a touch of jalapeño spice on the finish make this lighter option particularly refreshing. For about $20, this is a good choice for mixing into cocktails.

Añejo (aged) tequila spends 12 to 35 months in wood casks. These spirits take on more color and flavor from the wood, resulting in a deep amber color. Soft flavors and aromas of tobacco and baking spices contribute significantly to the overall flavor profile. Añejos are often enjoyed as sipping spirits but can also be used in premium cocktails.

The most popular aged tequila in Mexico scores 92 on Tequila.net and 94 from UBC. Its rich flavor profile offers ripe fruit, dark earthy moss, and sweet baking spices, with a touch of vanilla on the finish. It stands up against some of the most expensive alternatives, with a price of about $28.

Professionals love this smoky aged tequila, awarding it a whopping 93 points and a "great value" accolade from UBC. The flavor can be polarizing, with lots of leathery and spicy elements, leaning toward rustic and woodsy rather than cinnamon and caramel. It offers a lot of flavor for about $25.

This añejo gets special treatment, spending its last 12 months in charred barrels. This gives it a flavor that bourbon lovers will appreciate. With 87 points from UBC, it stands up nicely in the añejo category. The flavors are intense, with elements of cigar tobacco, bourbon-like charred grain, and orangy citrus. The price is about $30 a bottle.